Dallas Booking Reports Database
Dallas booking reports come from two main sources: the Dallas Police Department, which files arrest and incident reports, and the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, which manages the county jail. When DPD officers make an arrest, the person is usually booked at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in downtown Dallas. That facility is run by the Dallas County Sheriff, and the booking records it creates are part of the county's official arrest data. You can search for inmate information and request records through both the police department and the county.
Dallas Overview
Where Dallas Booking Records Are Held
Booking records for Dallas arrests are primarily held by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, which operates the Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 W. Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. That is the main jail in Dallas County, and it holds people arrested by DPD and other agencies in the county. You can call the inmate information line at (214) 761-9025, which is available 24 hours a day. The county also has an online inmate search tool that lets you look up current detainees by name.
The Dallas Police Department holds separate records for arrests made by its officers. DPD Headquarters is at 1400 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215. The Records Division handles requests for police reports, incident records, and related documents. Their main records line is (214) 671-3000. The department processes requests under the Texas Public Information Act, with a standard 10 business day response window.
| Office | Dallas County Sheriff - Lew Sterrett Justice Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 W. Commerce Street Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Inmate Info | (214) 761-9025 (24/7) |
| DPD Headquarters | 1400 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75215 |
| DPD Records | (214) 671-3000 |
| DPD Website | dallaspolice.net |
If someone was arrested in Dallas but the case involves a specific municipal charge, those records may be in the Dallas Municipal Court system rather than with the county. For felony and Class A or B misdemeanor arrests, Dallas County handles the booking and detention side of the process.
How to Search Dallas Booking Reports
Dallas has several ways to search for booking and arrest records. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search tool through the county website at dallascounty.org. That tool shows people currently held at Lew Sterrett and lets you search by name. It also shows basic booking information like the person's charges and booking date.
The Dallas Police Department website at dallaspolice.net has a public portal for requesting police records. You can submit an open records request online and get a tracking number. DPD also publishes crime statistics and a crime analytics dashboard that shows aggregate data about arrests and reported incidents across the city. That data does not identify individuals but gives a useful picture of enforcement patterns across Dallas neighborhoods.
For court records tied to an arrest, you can search through dallascountycourt.us, which provides case information for people processed through the county court system. A case number from an arrest will let you track the status of criminal proceedings in Dallas County courts.
Note: Booking records for people arrested in Dallas but held in Irving, Garland, or other surrounding cities may be at those cities' local jails before transfer to the county facility.
Dallas Police Department Records Portals
The Dallas Police Department homepage provides access to records request services, crime data, and public information for residents looking up arrest-related documents.
The DPD site is a good starting point for requesting incident reports, police records, and information about arrests made by city officers. The department has a public information portal you can use to file a formal request online.
DPD also maintains a dedicated section for police reports and records requests, where you can find instructions for submitting open records requests, pay applicable fees, and track the status of your submission.
Using the online records portal saves time compared to visiting in person. For most standard requests, DPD can fulfill them electronically within the statutory 10 business day period.
Dallas Records Fees and Processing
The Dallas Police Department publishes a fee schedule for public records requests. Incident reports are available free online in limited form, or you can get them in person at $0.10 per page. Accident reports cost $6.00. Certified copies are $5.00. If you request body camera footage, the base fee is $25.00, plus $0.50 per minute after the first 30 minutes of footage.
All fees are set under the framework of Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act. That law sets limits on what agencies can charge and requires them to respond within 10 business days. If a request involves a large amount of data or requires extra labor to process, the agency can estimate costs before proceeding.
Dallas County charges separate fees for copies of court records and inmate information. Basic inmate lookups through the online system are generally free. If you need certified documents from the county clerk's office, standard copy fees apply. Contact the Dallas County Clerk for an up-to-date fee schedule before submitting a formal records request.
What Dallas Booking Reports Show
A Dallas County booking report typically includes the person's full name, date of birth, race, sex, and physical description. It shows the arrest date and time, the charges, the booking number, and bond information. If bond was set, the amount and type of bond are usually listed. The facility where the person is held is also noted.
DPD police reports contain a different type of information. They describe what happened at the scene, who was involved, and what charges were filed. These are the incident-level records created by the arresting officer. You need those reports separately from the booking record. Both types of documents are public under Texas law unless a specific exemption applies.
The Texas Department of Public Safety's Crime Records Division holds statewide criminal history records for people arrested anywhere in Texas. A DPS background check gives a broader view of a person's arrest history across the state, not just Dallas. That service requires separate registration and payment but is available to the public for non-employment purposes.
Dallas County Booking Records
Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County. All felony and serious misdemeanor arrests in the city go through the Dallas County Sheriff's detention system. For countywide information on the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, inmate search tools, and public records request procedures, visit the Dallas County booking reports page.